Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has said President Bola Tinubu’s wife, Oluremi Tinubu, was divinely rewarded with the position of First Lady because of her punctuality and commitment to legislative duties during her time in the Senate.
Barau made the remark on Tuesday during plenary while supporting a proposal that senators’ attendance should be taken at the end of each sitting to recognise lawmakers who remain in the chamber until adjournment.
He said dedication to legislative responsibilities attracts rewards from both the Senate leadership and God.
Barau said: “Let me even say one thing, apart from being compensated by colleagues or by the leadership, God also compensates you, rewards you for what you are doing.”
Citing the First Lady as an example, he added: “I will give you a good example.
“The current first lady, she used to be the number one person, first person that always came to this senate.”
He continued: “When she was in the Senate, the most punctual – very punctual – and she would stay throughout the session.”
Barau further said: “She would come here before any other person.
“So, you see, God has rewarded her with the position of first lady.”
He urged senators to take their legislative responsibilities seriously, reminding them that they were elected to serve Nigerians.
The comments followed a proposal by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), who urged the Senate to adopt the House of Representatives’ practice of taking attendance at the end of plenary to identify lawmakers who remain until adjournment and recognise their commitment.
Supporting the proposal, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno recalled receiving an award for punctuality during his time in the House of Representatives under former Speaker Yakubu Dogara, saying the recognition contributed to his emergence as chief whip in the current Senate.
Oluremi Tinubu represented Lagos Central in the Senate for 12 years, from June 2011 to June 2023, before becoming Nigeria’s First Lady following President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
